Thing #16

I read, and re-read, and read all the perspectives again. There were some thought-provoking articles, and some of them were just more that I could take in. In the article "Away From the Icebergs" I agree that our patrons will probably expect access to everything, especially those who are very tech-savvy. But in a small rural area, many do not have time to explore a lot of new technologies. So when Rick Anderson says that it no longer makes sense to collect information products in the traditional sense at all, I do not see that as something we will see for awhile. But I do agree with him when he states that we need to place library services and content in the user's preferred environment by integrating our services into their daily patterns of work, study and play.
There were also some things I liked in Michael Stephens' article. The 2.0 Librarian will have to do reading outside the profession and watch for technology's impact on users and business. They have to be constantly seeking out information and news that may impact future services. Because "the library is human", a social and emotionally engaging center for learning and experience, the librarian may need to use Instant Messaging to meet users in their online space, or create MySpace profiles and participate in other on-line communities to build connections where their users are. The last paragraph sums it up nicely - "Librarian 2.0 also listens to staff and users when planning, tells the stories of successes and failures, learns from both, celebrates those successes, allows staff time to play and learn, and never stops dreaming about the best library services." Isn't that what all good librarians already do?